The absence of a swimblatter means that this shark exhibits the famous trait of sharks; it cannot stop swimming, or it will simply sink. It is one of the relatively few species of sharks that do well in captivity and because of this, often seen on display in aquariums around the world.

Where to see it

The shark is typically found in relatively shallow, tropical waters (surface to 75 meters) throughout the world, including the Red Sea, in the Indian Ocean, the eastern Mediterranean, as well as the waters around southeast Asia, India, Australia, and the Pacific tropical Islands, including Hawaii.

It prefers inshore waters, and has a relatively small territory, which it is quite loyal to. This makes it a dive center favorite as the above characteristics increases sightings and the likelihood of diving with blacktip reef sharks on a regular basis.

Map of Blacktip Reef Shark sightings

Best times to see it

Typically best sighted in the warmer months throughout the areas it inhabits, it is mostly the local dive season that determines sightings, more than the shark’s migratory habits.

Typically spotted more often on morning dives than dives later in the day. While it is not an extremely shy shark, the chances of spotting one, as with other sharks, increases by travelling in small groups and keeping disturbances to a minimum.

Interaction with humans

However, it is still considered potentially dangerous, due to frequent contact with humans, and general precautions should be taken. It will sometimes come quite close to divers, in which case the diver should remain calm and avoid sudden movements.

That being said, this is probably one of the safest sharks to encounter.

Conservation status

Generally sees healthy population in most of its habitats, though locally there has been significant decline in recent years. Unlike other sharks, this one isn’t commercially fished to any extensive degree.

The shark does reproduce quite slowly, with incubation times as high as up to 16 months, depending on water temperatures, increasing the population’s vulnerability. And in spite of not being targeted by commercial fishermen, it is sometimes caught as a bycatch.